Iontophoresis
 

I am at the pain clinic and the doc of course doesbt understand or believe in pec minor blocks

She suggested i do Iontophoresis

Wtf is this

Also is giving some kind of nerve cream

Whatever

Time to go to another clinic. Are pec minor blocks that hard to get???

okay ive calmed down at a bit, at first i read that this is for sweating. it's not..it's

Iontophoresis with topical dexamethasone

"Doesn't believe in pec minor blocks..."

Are you sure your pain management doctor understands that it would be for diagnostic purposes and not for pain management? Because pec minor blocks only last for a couple hours which could be why your doctor is thinking "wtf is this woman talking about... a pec minor block isn't going to help her!" I would suggest talking to a vascular surgeon or another specialist who diagnoses TOS about the pec minor block. Have you tried just calling a bunch of neurologists/vascular surgeons in the area and talking with their nurse about whether they diagnose TOS and how many patients with TOS they see?

I tried iontophoresis. Got very minor relief. Got a burn because I bumped the electrode and didn't know it broke connection, or something, and kept zinging me for the duration of the treatment... :(. Didn't hurt that bad, but caused a burn effect. Oh we'll. got over that with a little scar as a reminder.

It's often a problem with communication or lack of understanding of TOS by providers. Maybe the pain mgmt doc has your best interest at heart. He may be trying to save you money and risk of harm. Blocks are not without risk.

Even my best doctors found treating all my problems challenging.

I had to think my way through things and make notes for upcoming visits, for both of us.

Write down complaints, questions and concerns. Stay focused. Check them off when you're satisfied or have a better understanding.

If it's a healthcare professional you find helpful, please listen to what they are trying to tell you. What they may be trying to tell you may not register at the time of your visit, or you're not prepared to address that issue. It may not be the fix but they may be trying to get you to another level of relief. It took a long time to peel the layers away for me.

I hope you find someone you have confidence in...

thanks ladies

i need to do some calling around

i just cant take a pain management doctor serious who prescribes me hand cream for numb hands with me pointing to my pecs and saying..i push here and my hands tingle!! once she started saying that i was..tuning out. also i would like for someone who understand pec minor and scalene muscles at least. she said tos was caused by a bone spur. i am totally open to the idea that i dont have tos and i do have neuritis (which is what she wrote on the form) or the worst peripheral neuropathy ever but only if she is knowledgeable about tos to begin with..which she wasnt.

i do think injections of some sort might help or dry needling (wahtever releases the muscle more than massage..massage is not working). so i am willing to try that before a block.

i guess ill just call pain centers and ask if theyve dealt with tos.
vascular doctors dont believe me and tbh i dont think its vascular unless im just really abusing my shoulder. i used to sleep on my sides and id wake up with my whole arm swollen..i think because it was so droopy

Just remember, it's usually the vascular surgeons not neurologists/neurosurgeons that take care of NTOS.
I would call them and see what their TOS experience is then determine if it's worth a trip to see them to get a definitive diagnosis.

mspennyloafer,

I just got a pec minor block earlier this week as I threw myself into a major flare when I was knocked flat on my back the prior week. My doctor did this with the hopes that the anesthetic would break the flare. My physiatrist who did the block said he's getting a new appreciation for the pec minor and also said that he's probably the only one in my area that does the block. My physiatrist works directly with several local TOS surgeons.

My suggestion is follow the advice above about finding an experienced TOS surgeon who probably works with several physiatrists/pain mgmt doctors. These physiatrists/pain mgmt doctors will be more aware of TOS and treatment options.

You might have to travel a bit to find a good surgeon.

good luck!

I did not know this

Thank you all
Im in Atlanta fwiw

Neirher of the vasc docs thought i had enough muscle to get tos

But if its not muscular
Not bones
Then what is it!

Post injury neuropathy??

Ugh this is why I need the block
this is driving me insane

That makes no sense. I used to be a very muscular person. I threw discus and shotput, ran cross country and track, swam, and just was overall- pretty active. Then my shoulders gave out on me and I did practically nothing to baby them. Now, I naturally hold more muscle than most people, but NO ONE would look at me and say "wow, you look athletic." I've had a bit of atrophy due to the TOS especially on my left hand side. There was also no indication that I was made aware of that I had any boney abnormality. That being said, I did, indeed, have AVNTOS. Scar tissue, poor posture, and prior injury can all cause TOS so your vascular surgeons are full of crap if they say that you aren't muscular enough to have it. Am I positive you have TOS? Of course not, I'm no doctor, however your doctors can't be positive that you don't because they haven't run the necessary tests to rule it out.

Amen!

Stupid doctors
Today im going to try to find better ones